Creativity might be the missing element in schools

The poor results in the latest PISA test are linked with increased screen use, according to psychologist and schoolteacher Gitte Klein.

Although screen use was not measured directly in the latest PISA test, she believes the previous PISA tests indicate a trend.

“The 2015 PISA study examined the relationship between technology investment per pupil and academic performance. It found a strong negative correlation, where higher tech spending seemed to coincide with lower test scores,” she says.

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“This is of course not the only factor, but I believe we should take a closer look at how we use technology in our schools and daycare centres.”

As an example, Klein mentions Estonia, which actively restricts technology use in schools and yet consistently ranks among the top European countries in the PISA tests.

“By placing young children in front of screens, we’re moving away from how young children are naturally wired to learn. A three-year-old learns through sensory exploration and creativity, and we should focus more on encouraging this type of learning.”

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PISA is the OECD’s worldwide study intended to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance on maths, science and reading.

The test, which has been repeated every three years since 2000, provides comparable data to help countries evaluate their education systems and make improvements.

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

English version by prosa.fo.

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